Practicing gun safety can give the population a deeper understanding of the working mechanics of a gun to prevent an accident. Although accidental gun shootings happen, they are preventable. There are many things one can do to prevent an accident from occurring and practice gun safety.
1.) Enroll in a gun safety program.
By enrolling in a gun safety program, you have access to professionals who can train you and answer any questions you may have. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers many programs for children and hunters on its website www.pgc.state.pa.us. The National Rifle Association also offers many gun safety and training courses on its website training.nra.org.
2.) Get a gun cabinet and keep a lock on it.
If you own a gun, get a gun cabinet and keep a lock on it to prevent anyone other than you from tampering with your guns. This is especially important for the protection of children. A child may see a gun as a toy, not a weapon and want to play with it.
Getting a gun cabinet is a safe way of storing your guns and gives you peace of mind as to who has access to them.
3.) Never store a gun loaded.
Do not ever store a gun loaded. Not only is it extremely dangerous for you, it makes a dangerous situation for everyone else. You could shoot something by accident if you pick up the gun the wrong way.
Also, just because you know the gun is loaded does not mean others realize it. Someone else could hurt themselves as well.
4.) Do not touch the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
When lining up a shot, be sure to keep your finger clear of the trigger until you are ready to fire. This prevents your finger from slipping and pulling the trigger prematurely. Also if your gun has a safety, it is good practice to keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.
5.) Never point a gun at anything you do not want to shoot.
Do not point a gun at a person for a joke or by accident.
This is a good practice to keep a mature attitude toward gun safety, as well as keeping those around you safe. Also be aware of what is behind your target if you are hunting or target shooting. There may be a house or a person behind your target that you did not see.
Whether shooting for pleasure or owning a gun for protection, it is crucial to practice safe gun habits to prevent an accident. Following these few simple steps can be the difference between life and death.
As with many things in life, it is important to approach anything from an educated and mature attitude.
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